Attachment plug receptacle



SePt- 3, 1935 A. c. GAYNoR 2,013,142

ATTACHMENT PLUG RECEPTACLE Fild July 16, 1951 NEY Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to attachment plug receptacles, particularly those adapted to be mounted in an outlet box or the like, and is an improvement on the receptacle shown in my Patn ent 1,719,363, granted July 2, 1929.

In my aforesaid patent I have disclosed a dou- `ble or duplex receptacle with a body o1' one piece construction open at the back with longitudinally extending apertures to receive contact memlo` bers on edge, and having side wall openings through which a laterally oflset terminal portion of the contact lmember extends. However, I depend upon a tlbre or similar strip to cover the contact apertures and support the contacts u therein', and provide a long strap for connecting the receptacle to an outlet box or the like, and

hoi'd` the libre strip in place.

It is anobject of the present invention to providea a push plug receptacle body construction gominywhich the molded insulation material of the body itself .willsubstantially enclose the contact members and provide a solid body portion upon the back to take the load imposed upon the contagts, as when a push plug is moved through usual g5"*`prong slots. l

Itis another object of the present invention t -4accomplish what was just described, and in a ,dition` retain the advantages of having con- Mtactmember terminal portions pass through side 80 wall openings, as disclosed in my aforesaid patent.

A feature of the present invention is the provision `oi novel outlet box connecting plates, i.which make it possible to dispense with the usual 35""connecting plate attaching screws.

'Another feature isthe provision'of simple integral vertical fingers on the connecting plates entering suitable apertures in the receptacle body `partslto locate thefplates in the body, and also serving to locate the body parts relative to each other.

'A still further feature of the present invention is'the provision of novel receptacle outlet box ;\connecting plates fitting between upper and lower body parts, yet incapable of spreading or lever action between the two when a load is imposed upon the receptacle in a direction toward and from the outlet box or the like upon which the w Aplates are connected.

And 'yet another feature is the provision of a body fco'nstruction which positively locates the contact members relative to the usual prong slots, yet allows, free yielding movement of the prong wreceiving portions of the contacts, and which in addition effects a considerable saving in the amount of material used and in material cost.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a. molded two-part body with one-part having a single large cavity for the easy 5 reception of contact members and the other part having a rib entering the cavity to convert the one large cavity into two separate contact members.

In the drawing: l0

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the push plug receptacle.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation oi the receptacle, in use, with the outlet box and flush plate in longitudinal section. il

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 3 3 in Figs. 1 and 6.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end section, 4 4, in Fig. 3, and shows the end plate locating and Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4, taken on line 5 5 in Fig. 3, at the other end of the receptacle, and in addition shows a portion oi the contact member locating means.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the lower body part, 25 with contact members assembled therein.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the underside oi the upper body member, with one end plate in place. 4

Fig. 8 is a perspective detail of the end plate. 30IA Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a modified form oi' lower body part.

In the drawing there is illustrated a double or duplex push plug receptacle having a twopart body I0 comprising a lower body part or 35 base portion I I and an upper body part or cover portion I2 made of Bakelite or other suitable insulating material.

The lower body part Il is made hollow or box n like in shape, comprising side walls I3, end walls 40'y I4 and bottom I5, which form a contact receiving chamber I6. Two contact members I1 are edgewise disposed in this one large open chamber, rather than in two small close tting chambers as disclosed in my aforementioned applica- 45W tion, thus making it possible for the assembler to freely manipulate the contacts at the time oi' assembly. Both of the side walls I3 are provided with an opening I8 which communicates with the chamber I6 and receives a laterally oiIset ter- 60 minal portion I9 of the contact member I1 to locate it longitudinally.

The contact members l I l, like the form disclosed in my aforesaid patent, are made from strip material with opposite ends 20 bent back upon them- Il ward., displacement.

lower inside face of the terminal portion selves, at 2I, to form contact fingers 22, for receiving usual push plug prongs. Upwardly projecting and outwardly bent ears 23 on the upper edge of the strips, as shown in Fig. 6, are provided to further guide the push plug prongs.

The laterally offset terminal portions I9 of each contact member I1 is tapped for either one or two terminal screws 24, and is formed so that the outer surface is preferably substantially parallel with the .outer surface of the side walls I3. This contact member is adapted to be placed on its edge in the chamber IS and is substantially supported by the bottom I 5. Thus, when usual push plug prongs are forced into the contact fingers 22 of the contact member I1 the latter is substantially supported by the bottom I5.

In order to locate the contact members transversely within the chamber I6 there is provided a fiat portion 25 adapted to engage the inner surface of the side wall I3 to prevent outward displacement,` and a set of transversely extending ribs or beads 26 preferably made integral with the bottomfIS and adapted -to engage thelower portioncof thev contact member to prevent in- The small one-point contact ofthe ribs 26 with the side of the looped portionof the contact member I1, near the center thereof, as-shown in Figs. 5 and 6, makes it possible for the looped portion to yield consideri ably and adjust itself to any irregularity in the parallelism .of .the push plug prongs.

Although these ribs are of small height they effectively locate the contact member and prevent lateral displacement, and, at the same time,

Y. provide the large inner cavity or chambers I6' which ymakes it possible to freely manipulate the contact members I1 at the time of assembly, whenI movingthe latter into place. In addition tothis assembly advantage the hollowed body construction requires but little material and therebya considerable saving in material cost is'efected.

If desired, a central transversely extending rib or bead 21 may also-be provided to engage the I9. This latter rib 21 alone may be used to prevent inwardmovement of the Contact members I1, dispensing with the ribs 26, however, it is preferably provided along with the latter and serves mainly to prevent inward movement of the ter minal portion I9, as an electrician pushes his screw driver against the head ofthe connecting or `terminal screws 24, in tightening the latter. This rib is, like the ribs 26, made of butsmall .height so that it does not make an obstruction to the operators finger.

The upper body part or cover portion I2 is adapted to fit directly over the top of the base portion II to substantially enclose the contact members I1. It is provided with two pairs of parallel push plug prong receiving slots 28 adaptedto overlie the looped contact fingers 22 of the contact members I1 when the cover is assembled to the base portion II.

In its preferred form, the cover portion I2 is provided with downwardly projecting lugs 29 adapted to engage the inner side of the end walls I4'to locate it longitudinally and prevent displacement in this plane, and the sides 30 Iof ylthese` downturned lugs fit within a recess 3| in the base to locate it laterally.

Thus, after the contact members I1 are assembled to the base portion I I it is merely necessary for the assembler to move the cover I2 toward the base portion while the lugs. 29 enter the recesses 3I to be located thereby and when moved fully into position the prong apertures 29 are sure to be in proper operating position over the looped contact fingers` 22. The lugs 29 also serve to insulate the looped contact fingers 22 of the contacts I1 from connecting plates 32.

The under side of the cover portion I2 is also provided with transversely extending ribs 26a adapted to engage the top portion of the contact members to assist the ribs 26 of thelower or base portion II in locating the contact member and to prevent lateral or transverse displacement; and, at its center, it may be provided with a transversely extending rib 21a the ends of which engage the inside wall of the terminal portion I9 to assist 'the ribs 21 in the base portion to prevent transverse displacement of the contact member as an electrician applies tightening pressure to the terminal screw heads 24.

If desired, a longitudinally extending rib may be provided to further isolate the two contact members I1 from eachother. In:.its present preferred form the present invention provides -alongitudinally extendingrib 33 on the -lower body` part I I, of substantially the same heights as the ribs 26 and 21, anda similarlongitudinally extending rib 33a on the top body part I2 -overlying rib 33 to form two separatecontact chambers when the two body parts II andx|2-aremovedV together.

If desired, the transverse rib 21 may beex-l tended Ltoform a large thin projection 41 on:Y the base II,l as shown in Fig. 9, with sidewalls i 21D to engage theinside of 'the terminal, por-r tion and prevent transverse shifting. of .the con tact member I1. be extended to form the thin wide projections 48 with side walls 26h to engage the side of :the

In additionthe ribs 26 mayr looped members 22 to further locate it in place.l

The cavities, of slight depth, thus formed ybetween the side walls 2Gb and/or 21h, andbody side wall I3 also serve to effectively. locate the` contact members I1.

Projections similarto 41 and 48 on the lower body part, as shown in Fig. 9, may also be provided on the underside of the upper body part in place of the ribs 26a and 21a, as shown by dotandedash lines 49 in Fig. '7, and of any desired height. This form of the present invention is more easily molded and effectively locates the contact members in place relative to the prong tion adapted to be connected to an-outlet bora or the like. These U-shaped straps are usually connected to the duplex receptacle with screw fastening means and in some cases with hollowr 'obv or other type-rivets. It isv also a rather general practice to provide connecting means comprising small plates on each end of the receptacle-- which serve-as a connecting medium. However,- inlthisy latter form it is also usual to provide a screw or rivet fastening means.

An important aspect of the present invention is the provision of connecting means which entirely dispenses with the usual screw and rivet,

To this-end` fastening means for these plates. the present invention provides outlet box conaclaran Ietingplatesll havingasewlelnllwithan f ,if slet forcer: e.: totheoutletbox #im having amt 196mm 31 adapted te nt 1.=;-` fasloterr'ecessn'inthetopdlthe end #als Il or thesiot Il maybe piumone ln the ver m. mrermy' this recess is raads the mnptkasthe thickmss'o! meplatemd whatwe 'eaougnfto prevent snm mwement of the plate. Q( particular importancmmwevoisidflatesare provided with a pair of vertically upwardly extending fingers 39 adapted to nt into a pair of suitable cooperating slots 40 in the cover I2 and are provided with a similar downwardly extending finger 4I adapted to nt within a `three-walled aperture 42 in the end wall I4 of the base portion, the fourth wall being constituted by the face 43 of the lug 29.

These plates are assembled to the cover I2, as shown at the right side of Fig. "I, and the cover is then moved down toward the top of the base portion II, after the contact members are assembled thereto, whereupon the lugs 2l ride into the apertures II and the vertical nnger 4I portion of the plate moves into'the aperture 42 of the lower body part II, as shown in Fig. 3. After the two body parts are so assembled a tubular rivet 44 is passed through a substantially circular hole 45 in both the lower and upper body parts I I and I2 until a square head portion of the tubular rivet 44 enters a suitable aperture in the base to prevent further vertical and turning movement and the upper end is then spun as at 46 to permanently secure the body parts together.

When the plates 32 are assembled between the two body parts and the latter are held together by the spun-over tubular rivet 44, movement of the body parts relative to each other in a horizontal plane as viewed in Fig. 3 is prevented by the rivet. In this condition, when vertical pressure is applied to the receptacle and transmitted through the plates 32 to the outlet box or the like, all tendencies of the plates to skew and thus separate the two body parts is avoided because of the fact that the ears 39 and 4I extend vertically into the two parts. Theoretically, if the ears 39 and 4I were weak enough to bend, pressure on the receptacle would cause the ears to act as a first-class lever moving about the division line between the two body parts as a pivot, and this would tend to shift the body parts horizontally. This horizontal shifting movement between the body parts would be prevented by the rivet to which the body parts would apply a shearing action.

However, in practice, the ears 3l and 4I extend into their respective body parts so far and lit the slots in which they are located so well that all skewing movement oi' the plate which might be transmitted into a separating movement between the body parts is avoided. In both oi' these connections it is within the scope of this invention to have the two ngers extended downwardly and one extend upwardly, or to provide the plates with but a single upwardly extending finger 39 and/or a single downwardly extending finger 4I to enter a suitable aperture in either the upper or lower body part respectively.

It is also within the scope of this invention to have the fingers 38 and 4I of the plate 32 serve to locate the cover I2 relative to the base II both longitudinally and transversely, for they may be made to serve in this very connection and thereby dispense with the downwardly extendlng cover lug 2i fitting within the apmre It, if desired.

Other vatiatlons and modifications may be made within theesco'pe of this invent-ion Ind portions of the invention maybe used withmt mi.

Havtilg thus described the invention, what is claimed las new and lor which it is dem te obtain Letters Patent, is:

l. An attachment plug 'csptacie rectangular body of insulaing material, mi! side and end walls, recessed from its upper face to provide a single longitudinally extending contact receiving cavity; a pair of contacts adapted to stand on edge in said cavity at opposite side walls thereof; and a plurality of transversely extending raised beads, integral with the floor of the cavity, adapted to engage the sides of the contacts at spaced points and locate them relative to the side walls.

2. An attachment plug receptacle comprising a rectangular body of insulating material, having side and end walls, recessed from its upper face to provide a single longitudinally extending contact receiving cavity; a pair of contact members adapted to stand on edge in said cavity and each having a laterally offset terminal portion near its center adapted to flt into a cut-out portion of the adjacent side wall, to prevent longitudinal shifting of the contact members; and aplurality of transversely extending raised beads integral with the floor of t-he cavity, adapted to engage sides of the contacts at spaced points for locating them relative to the side walls and preventing transverse shifting.

3. An attachment plug receptacle comprising a molded two-part body made of insulating material; and a pair of mounting ears, one for each end of the receptacle, each having integral ilngers bent at substantially a right angle to the general plane of the plate and extending in opposite directions relative to each other, adapted to slidably t apertures provided therefor in the two body parts, thereby serving to locate the two body parts relative to each other.

4. An attachment plug receptacle comprising a two-part body, upper and lower, made of insulating material; and a pair of mounting ears, one for each end of the receptacle, each having a pair of integral upturned fingers adapted to slidably t a pair of apertures provided therefor in the upper body part, and having a single similar integral downturned nger adapted to slidably t an aperture provided therefor in the lower body part.

5. An attachment plug receptacle comprising a two-part body, upper and lower, made of insulating material; a pair of connecting plates, each having a straight section lying between the upper and lower body parts to be partially located thereby and a section for connection to an outlet box or the like, and having oppositely extending integral fingers at substantially right angles to the straight section entering suitable apertures in the body parts to further locate the connecting plate and holding the straight section of the plate from skewing and thereby spreading the body parts when pressure is applied to the body toward the outlet box upon which the plates are connected.

6. An attachment plug receptacle comprising a two-part body, made of insulating material; means for holding said body parts together; a pair of plates for connecting the receptacle to an outlet box or the like, each plate having oppositely extending integral fingers at substantially right angles to the general plane of the plate adapted to enter suitable apertures in the body and positively prevent skewing movement of the plate after the body parts are secured together by said means.

'7. An attachment plug receptacle comprising a rectangular body of insulating material, having side and end Walls, recessed from its upper face -to provide only one longitudinally extend ing contact receiving cavity; a pair of contacts adapted to stand on edge in said cavity; vand cach having a laterally offset terminal portion near its center adapted to enter cut-ouf, portions of the side walls; means to hold the contacts from longitudinal shifting within the body; and transversely extending raised beads within the body, adapted to engage sides of the contacts for locatingthem relative to the side walls and for preventing transverse shifting.

ARTHUR, C. GAYNOR. 

